Tag: Food Festival

Autumn in Atlanta officially kicked off this past weekend with an amazing variety of events throughout the city. From the Fall Fest in Candler Park to the Mimosa Festival at Atlantic Station, residents definitely knew where to have fun.

Cheese Market

For the Gnome Queen, I attended the 6th Annual Cheese Fest Atlanta over in the Historic Fourth Ward Park.

Cheese Market Inside

And let me tell you, it was fantastic.

Vermont Creamery

Started in 2012 by Gourmet Foods International, this year’s event provided attendees with: 4 huge Tasting Tents, the Meltdown Competition featuring popular Atlanta chefs “grilling it out” for the coveted People’s and Judges’ Choice Awards, VIP Pairing Sessions, Live Entertainment, and a whole lot of cheese.

Cypress Grove

A special aspect of this year’s event also included a portion of all proceeds going to the local nonprofit: Giving Kitchen. Giving Kitchen’s mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to restaurant workers and their families while in need through the Giving Kitchen Crisis Grants.

Rio Briati

The event kicked off around 5 P.M. with a light bit of rain; however that didn’t stop attendees from munching on over 100 different Vendor’s samples and goodies. While several of these Vendors were either local or from the States’, many also traveled from Europe and South America. With an assortment of cheeses, olives, charcuteries, crackers and more, the Cheese Fest Atlanta came prepared.

Wisconsin Whey

The Gnome Queen began her Cheese-Quest at the Tasting Tents which had an amazing variety of cheeses, ranging from Goat’s and Cow’s to Lactose-free options as well.

Parlano

While I won’t play favorites on which types of cheeses I prefer (because all cheese is delicious), the Gnome Queen definitely enjoyed the variety of “sharp”, tangy, and pepper-based cheeses as well as many of the more goat and soft cheeses. Some of these came from: Vermont Creamery, Cypress Grove, Rio Briati, Parlano, Sartori, and a collection of vendors from Proudly Wisconsin Cheese.

Blackberry Farm’s First Place Cheeses

I even got to try some of the Award-Winning Blackberry Farm’s goat cheeses which were without a doubt amazing.

Suga’s

Two notable pimento cheese-makers came locally from food service company: Suga’s and the restaurant: Home grown. Home grown provided their Award-Winning pimento cheeses which included original and jalapeno.

Hanging with Home grown

As someone who has an absolute love for mascarpone cheese, BelGioioso did not disappoint either.

BelGioioso

I even went back for thirds.

Sartori

For those who came specifically for the non-cheese items such as olives, crackers, sauces, and charcuterie, Cheese Fest Atlanta had you covered.

Spotted Trotter

Local meat-boutique: Spotted Trotter had a mouth-watering variety of samples to choose from as well as a Pig and Pint Pairing later on.

Samples Galore

Busseto,Principe “The Prosciutto Family” and Creminelli also had a succulent collection of meats and crackers to choose from.

Posing with PrincipeDivina

Divina, Pickled Pink, and Delallo came ready with plates of olives, veggies, peppers and fruits.

Pickled PinkDelalloRustic Bakery

While Rustic Bakery, Venus, Thinster’s, Cello, and ParmCrisps produced the crackers, cookies and breads.

Venus

From ChazaBros. came some savory Hot Sauces;

The “Chaza” Family

Goodson with the Pecan Butter;

Goodson Pecans

Pepper Lane provided the Spicy Jellies;

Pepper Lane

And Lazzaris brought the fig sauce. Lazzaris also supplied a boozy shot of Fourth Ward Distillery Vodka with juiced fig.

Takin’ Shots with Lazzaris

I may have taken two or three….

Savannah Bee Company

Savannah Bee Co. had a variety of honey and honeycomb samples to taste while Mike’s Hot Honey had an enticing spicy-sweet margarita shot.

Margarita Shots with Mike’s Hot Honey

By 7 P.M., patrons and even the Gnome Queen began to feel the oncoming food-coma. However, the journey continued to the one and only: Meltdown Competition.